Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

The neck of an Archmage was not much different from that of ordinary people.

Just a little thinner and whiter. That was the extent of my impression.

“How is it?”

“…”

I faced Dersia, who looked down at me with a slightly bitter expression.

I had done everything I could.

And because of that, I achieved this result. A result that could be called a victory.

However, I still had to beg the loser.

If Dersia decided to throw a fit here, refusing to lose her memory regardless of the outcome, then from that moment on, we could no longer remain teacher and student.

And Dersia was the type who didn’t care about honor at all.

“Is it still not enough?”

“…No.”

To my question, asked while feeling like a single second stretched on for a thousand years, Dersia slowly shook her head.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Ah, yes. With a lot of help…”

“I meant something more fundamental.”

Dersia looked at the top of my head.

“You’ve gotten taller.”

“…Huh?”

What the hell was she talking about?

As I stood there with a puzzled expression, she calmly stated the facts.

“Compared to when we first met, you’ve grown about two finger joints taller. Now that I see you up close, it’s a noticeable change.”

“I’m still growing. Is that a problem?”

“Then you must have quite a bit more growing to do.”

“I… guess?”

“If that’s the case, then every single one of those moments, all of that time which will never return, must be spent solely on survival.”

“…”

I realized what Dersia was saying.

She calmly continued speaking, despite her neck being held.

“I understand your goal of escaping from the deep sea. I also understand that you don’t want to become just a creature that survives in the deep sea. But you must realize. That, will consume an enormous amount of time.”

“Yes. I suppose it will.”

“You are not an Elf. You were born with a fate of short life. You’ll have to pour your most precious time entirely into survival.”

After a brief pause to choose her words, Dersia met my gaze.

“To remain human, you’ll have to give up your entire life. Is it really worth that much?”

“Yes.”

I answered lightly with a smile.

“At best, we live a hundred years. And for half of that, our bodies are worn out. It’s not that long.”

“…”

To me, it was just a lighthearted joke.

But it seemed to perfectly match Dersia’s terrible sense of humor.

“…That’s true.”

Unlike her usual decaying sneer, a genuinely amused and soft smile formed at her lips, the kind that comes when you really want to smile.

The breathtaking smile of a beautiful Elf lasted only a moment.

Returning to her usual demeanor, she used her slimmer hand to release mine, which was gripping her neck.

“I can’t deny it. This is my loss.”

“Uh, really?”

“I’m being insincere. You really did your best, but it seems you’re not quite used to battles between wizards.”

“Huh?”

When I tilted my head, Dersia lightly tapped my hand.

My hand, was frozen in the shape of gripping a neck and wouldn’t move.

“What is this?”

“The moment you touched my skin, I used a small current to lock your muscles in place.”

“…Wait, that’s possible with a 2-Star?”

“It’s not. Unless, of course, the opposing wizard is foolish enough to reach out on their own and make direct skin contact.”

“Ah.”

“Next time, even if you’re sure of victory, threaten with a sword or another spell. Direct skin contact is extremely dangerous.”

“Got it.”

A chill ran down my spine.

So I really lost? After coming this far?

As I clenched the hand that had been released again, Dersia added in a consoling tone.

“Just by manifesting your Inner World, most magic battles shouldn’t be much of a problem anymore. Actually… it’s something I asked before, but you really did try to beat me, didn’t you?”

“There was a lot riding on it. And that Inner World manifestation… yeah. Actually, it has a bit of a restriction.”

“A restriction?”

“…Yes.”

I’d have to explain the details later.

But first, there was something else I had to do.

“…So, did I really win?”

Brimdal approached and looked at me, shaking his head.

“That monster, beaten by an 11-year-old. Every time I look at you, you get more unbelievable.”

“She went easy on me, though.”

“Even so, it’s not something just anyone can do. I know, because I crossed swords with her.”

“Heh, what an impressive fellow.”

Azrael clicked his tongue and came closer.

“I couldn’t even face against her back when she was 170. So, which memory should I erase?”

“What? Don’t erase anything.”

I recoiled and pushed Azrael away from Dersia.

“What are you doing? You should use your rights as the victor.”

“People learn from their mistakes. She’s an Elf, so she’ll probably learn even better. If you erase it, she might just make another mistake next time.”

“Or, we could just erase all the impure memories and turn her into a doll who only listens to you. How about that?”

“Let’s stop with the horrifying talk. I need my teacher, not a obedient 9-Star wizard.”

Well, truthfully, I did kind of want that. That’d be the best.

Still, what I’d gain in exchange for using up Dersia wasn’t worth it. I refuted Azrael’s nonsense point by point.

“To begin with, I only made that a condition to make things more serious. I never intended to entrust my teacher’s memories to a creepy shaman like you. I had no such plans from the start.”

“…”

At my firm response, Dersia’s expression, standing beside me, gradually stiffened. What’s with her?

Despite the sharp rebuttal, Azrael burst into hearty laughter and was visibly pleased.

“Haha, just driving the nail in, huh? How does it feel, Dersia? Hm?”

“…Jern, I owe you an apology.”

Dersia bowed her head deeply.

“I’m sorry. If we had spoken a bit more, this wouldn’t have happened. In my focus on the path to my own enlightenment, I didn’t listen to your thoughts at all.”

“Ah, no. It’s alright.”

“It’s not alright. If you hadn’t come to me, I would have gone to you in a week, kidnapped you, and started experimenting with you among dozens of fallen Elf subjects.”

“Yeah, that’s definitely not alright.”

Good thing I came. I owed it to Ciel.

Now that I think about it, where is Ciel?

“Brimdal-nim, where is Head Maid-nim?”

“…Head Maid?”

Brimdal made a displeased face, then looked at me as if something had dawned on him.

“You mean that girl, Ciel. That one should know.”

“…”

I looked seriously at Dersia.

Dersia deliberately avoided my gaze. It was the first time she’d ever looked away from me.

“Don’t worry. She’s not hurt.”

“…Please bring her out.”

As Dersia snapped her fingers.

Not long after, Ciel emerged from the floor.

Bound tightly in all sorts of roots.

“…”

“…”

Ciel didn’t look particularly pleased.

We stared at each other for a moment. As if she had read something from my expression, she looked at Dersia, who turned her head away.

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

“J-Jern.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe it, it’s hard to accept. But judging by the fact that Sia released me and you’re standing there so confidently…”

“Well, there’s not much to deduce. You’re thinking correctly.”

“No, even so. I have to ask.”

Ciel looked at me and Dersia in turn, a face close to disbelief.

“…Did you persuade Sia in that state?”

“It was a bit forceful, but yes.”

“Heh…”

Leaning back against the roots, Ciel looked up at the sky and let out a breath.

“You refuted the conclusion that a 9-Star wizard, Dersia, no less, reached after months of research? Even most demigods couldn’t do such a thing.”

“That’s because my teacher didn’t know how I’d grown during that time.”

“Would a tiger care about a cat’s training? No. Not even a cat. Young Master Jern, you’re a rat. A rat.”

Ciel, who suddenly burst out with something close to criticism, walked up behind me as soon as the roots were released and glared at Dersia.

“And Master, you’re the wicked tiger who only came to your senses after being bitten by such a rat.”

“…I’m sorry, Ciel.”

Dersia apologized to Ciel in informal speech.

“I made a decision I shouldn’t have, once my mind returned. I did something unforgivable to you as well.”

“Don’t you owe me an apology too? Because you impersonated the World Tree, I almost burned to death.”

“Azrael, I don’t feel even a shred of remorse toward you.”

But Azrael wasn’t letting it go.

“Though I didn’t go through with it because Jern stopped me, my thoughts now are the same as when I first came here. It’s just that this time, I thought I could make a bit more use of it, so I came.”

“What thoughts are you referring to?”

“Eternal rest.”

“Hmph.”

Azrael snorted in refusal.

“As if I’d follow some foolish plan to turn all Elves into books.”

“They’re better off dead. But just killing them won’t do, since the memories they have include many ancient relics from forgotten history. Recording all that before committing mass suicide is the only salvation left for the Elf race.”

“…”

Her thinking, extreme as ever, had not changed.

“Hey, human child. Your teacher still treats Elves like this. What do you think?”

“Well, to be honest, I also think Elves would be better off dead.”

“…?”

At my answer, Azrael’s expression became that of someone who had been stabbed in the foot by someone they trusted.

“Wait, didn’t you fight your teacher with your life on the line because you felt sorry for us?”

“That’s not it. It’s just, are they really living? Can you call that living? I see them as biological machines acting based on preset programming. Rather than keep living like that, waiting for some savior who might never come, wouldn’t it be better just to die?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“…The master and disciple pair are both out of their damned minds.”

While Azrael grumbled, Dersia added a comment.

“The extinction of the Elf race is also for the sake of humanity. It’s better that no savior comes in the first place.”

“And why is that?”

“Many Elves besides myself have challenged the world until now. In worlds with magic and without it, in worlds with enemies and without them. They’ve run rampant in countless worlds as heroes and demons. And in the end, they lost their memories and became primitive beings. If a savior appears now and Azrael liberates all those Elves, this era will plunge into a dreadful age of chaos.”

“Aha.”

So, in Earth terms, it would be like thawing out Guan Yu, Hitler, and Genghis Khan and letting them all loose in the same era.

That would be horrifying indeed. I shivered, and Azrael waved his hand dismissively.

“Then I’d appreciate it if you’d finally get out of this hell. And return the Elves, too.”

“You still plan to wait for a savior who won’t come?”

“…Hmph, actually, I was starting to get tired, at least until today.”

Azrael looked at me with a faintly clinging gaze.

“I’ve started to see a possibility. I never thought I’d see it in a human.”

Dersia immediately pulled me behind her to shield me from Azrael’s gaze.

“If you lay a hand on Jern, I’ll kill you.”

“I have no intention of touching him. Didn’t I just say I only saw potential in him?”

“And we’re not just leaving yet, either.”

“What? Don’t tell me you’ve still got more to go on about?”

Regardless of the awful expression Azrael made, Dersia looked down at me and muttered.

“Jern, it seems there’s much I need to hear from you.”

“I also have a lot of questions for you, Teacher.”

There are things that only a 9-Star wizard can answer.

There is help to be asked from wizards who, even knowing I’m a Fallen, do not care.

Dersia nodded, but also looked toward Azrael.

“But those things can wait. For now, there’s something we can get from that shaman.”

“What is it?”

“Your past memories.”

“…Ah.”

That’s right. I took out the picture of what appeared to be me and my mother that I had put in my pocket and showed it.

“I already learned a bit from my talk with the Princess.”

“Princess? You mean Lumia?”

“No, the older sister.”

“…How in the world?”

Dersia made a strange expression. Realizing it wasn’t something that could be explained simply, I just shrugged.

“It’s a long story. The important part is, I could have found out, but I refused. I thought if I accepted the reward, I’d get too deeply entangled.”

“You did very well.”

Dersia nodded with a rare, relieved look on her face.

“The First Princess is a dangerous one. She hides an unknowable secret.”

“Ah, I found that out too.”

“That is probably a misunderstanding. It’s not something that can be discovered so easily. It’s one of the Empire’s most well-guarded secrets, and even for me, it’s all speculation.”

“She’s a Prophet, right? But it doesn’t seem like simple prophecy.”

“…”

Dersia couldn’t speak for nearly thirty seconds.

Finally regaining her composure, she asked again.

“…Just what exactly have you been doing?”

“Well, I kind of got into a fight with a Crimson Circle executive…”

“…A fight?”

“Let’s save that story for later. What about my past?”

Sensing the conversation was about to veer wildly off-track, I brought it back.

“…There’s so much I want to ask, but alright. So besides this picture, you don’t know anything specific?”

“Correct.”

“To survive in the Abyss Realm, it’s most important to understand how it’s formed. And we should also look into what the Crimson Circle was doing in the past.”

“Is that so.”

I nodded in agreement.

“But how?”

“We will use that shaman.”

Not utilize, but use.

Azrael, of course, objected.

“Why should I use a forbidden technique reserved only for Elves on a human?”

“Because if you don’t, the Elves in the cavity will soon find it difficult to breathe.”

“Human child, do you really want to serve something like this as your teacher?”

“Of course I do.”

Azrael had no allies here. Even Brimdal seemed reluctant about the shaman.

In the end, Azrael sat down behind me with a sullen expression.

“If I sense even the slightest suspicious behavior, I’ll instantly kill all the Elves. Look into the memories before age five.”

“Fine, fine. You think I’d fool around with the lives of Elves at stake?”

Watching Azrael place his hand on my head, I suddenly got curious and asked.

“Once the spell starts, will my memories come back, or something like that?”

“No. I’ll extract your memories from before you turned five and examine them. Then I’ll tell you.”

“Does extracting take a long time?”

“I manage memories spanning thousands, tens of thousands of years. Ten years? That’s…”

Suddenly.

Azrael’s words stopped.

“Hmm… What’s this?”

“What is it?”

“Something’s strange… For your age, your memories are oddly long? This is more like a young adult’s than a child’s.”

“…Ah.”

So he might be seeing memories from my previous life.

That thought crossed my mind, when Azrael tilted his head.

“No, that’s not it. There’s exactly eleven years of memory, but it feels unusually long. What a strange fellow you are.”

“…Just do what you need to.”

“Sheesh, no respect for elders these days.”

Should I say it’s a relief? It seemed he couldn’t access the memories from Earth.

Azrael extracted all the memories, then sat down again.

“It’s done. Is there anything you don’t remember?”

“Jern Aspandil, 11 years old, Wizard, Fallen into the Abyss, deep sea, Crimson Circle. I remember everything.”

“Hmm, so it’s true that you lost your memories.”

“What about my past?”

“Wait a moment…”

Azrael closed his eyes and began recalling.

Apparently, he could reflect on the memories he had extracted.

…It was an absurd ability. I could now understand, at least a little, why all the Elves trusted this man with managing their kind.

For the first time, Azrael showed the seriousness worthy of a shaman and didn’t budge for several dozen minutes.

After enough time passed that I wondered if he had died.

He suddenly opened his eyes and stared at me.

“…Human child.”

Seeing that serious expression, I braced myself.

My past.

The past that likely caused me to fall into the Deep Sea.

What kind of torture had I endured? Was I kidnapped by the Crimson Circle? Or did I fall into the Deep Sea alone? But they say a Great World cannot be formed by itself. So perhaps the Crimson Circle, or some other force, had made me this way.

I prepared for all possibilities. Then, Azrael spoke.

“…Your past self.”

“Yes?”

“Was living quite comfortably and happily.”

“…?”

“I’ve seen many wealthy families, but never have I seen a three-year-old with ten maids.”

Hmm…

So I was born with a silver spoon, huh.